One of the songs I like to listen to is the song ‘From a distance’ by Bette Midler. This 1991 Grammy award Song of the Year talks about God watching us from a distance. The only change to the lyrics, I would suggest is that God is watching us, but not necessarily from a distance, because His name is Emmanuel and that means, God with us.
In the beginning God (Father, Son and Holy Spirit) created man, so that God could be with man. Man chose to disobey God and a chasm between God and man arouse. Two pieces of wood and three nails were given to God the Son (Jesus) to build a bridge (shaped as a Cross) so that God could be with man again. When Jesus arrived on the scene, born of a virgin, he was to be called Emmanuel, which when interpreted means “God WITH us (man)”. Jesus was crucified and killed, but He rose from death, defeating death and the devil who held the power of death. He then ascended to God the Father in heaven. But when he ascended into glory, he counseled his followers to wait for God the Holy Spirit to come so that God could be with man once again, so that God could be Emmanuel, God with us.
My human intellect wonders if the time period from the ascension of Jesus to heaven to the arrival of the Holy Spirit on man is the only time period in history, when God was not with man, God was not Emmanuel. Now is that even possible? I don’t know and may never know.
Many times we simply fail to recognize God presence with us. Remember, the two who walked on the road to Emmaus, who did not recognize that God was with them, even though Jesus was with them in his resurrected body (Luke 24). Many times we are like the two not cognizant of God’s omnipresence. God is always with us. There are no SECRETS with God. We cannot hide from God (Psalm 139).
On the other hand, Even though God is with us today, there are many in this world who are not with God. What a pity! The world is asking those of us who know that God is with us, if He really is? They are seeking and expressing that God is NO WHERE to be found. Our response should be to make them realize that God is NOW HERE to be found and all they need to do is accept the lordship of Jesus, by believing in Him.
From the beginning, God has been with man, is with man and will always be with man, until the very end. He cannot be untrue to the Name. The Name is Emmanuel.
Matthew 1:23 (KJV)
23 Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.
